Yeah the Oscars are a sham and many of the voters are wankers. Artistry escapes them, and politics and commercialism rear their ugly heads definitely. When Crash beat Brokeback Mountain in 2005, many tuned off for life, unwillingly to even engage in the fun.

Allan Fish, Maurizio Roca and Jamie Uhler are classic Oscar bashers as well as they should be. I choose to engage in all the guilty pleasures it afford, and have hosted a party with an Oscar pool since 1978 at my home. it’s fun to discuss the omissions and the dire rules each and every year and to make predictions. It’s also fun to acknowledge that rare unexpected time when the voters by luck or a rare moment of inspiration make some right choices. While the masterful The Artist will be taking home the Best Picture prize on February 26th (it received 10 nominations to Hugo’s 11) the naming of The Tree of Life in the nominations for Best Picture, and Terrence Malick for Best Director is surely one of those great moments that are reached even as Allan Fish states, ‘they have to get it right sometimes.’ War Horse also got into the Big Show in the main category. Here are the nine films that are in for Best Picture:

The Artist

The Descendants

Midnight in Paris

The Tree of Life

Moneyball

The Help

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Hugo

War Horse

For best director:

Hazanavicius (Artist)

Payne (Descendants)

Malick (The Tree of Life)

Scorsese (Hugo)

Allen (Midnight in Paris)

Anyone have anything to say about these nominations and/or the acting noms, or all or any of the others?

As you may know, for the Foreign Language Film Oscar, each country submits one film that it wants considered for the award, and the Academy narrows it down to a shortlist, then to the actual five nominees. Astoundingly, South Korea did not submit POETRY for consideration, it submitted another film called THE FRONT LINE (heard of it? I hadn’t). I’m not sure about ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA, but the entire list of submitted films is on Wikipedia.

I said it once and I’ll say it again… there is no difference between the Oscars and the Teen Choice awards. Malick being nominated does not make up for the various travesties offered up by the Academy in 2011. They are not a serious body of film appreciation now or ever. I rather watch a rerun of Mob Wives or Jerseylicious if given the option.

As a huge fan of The Artist how can you sit idly by as the best part of the film was snubbed. Uggie should of been nominated for best supporting actor over (at minimum) that large tub of annoyance that is Jonah Hill. In fact for me its the only thing The Artist deserves in terms of accolades or recognition lol.

Ryan Gosling is the best actor.
But the best performance?
Tell Dujardin that we have another silent movie to star in, called Drive, they never talk and when they do, it doens’t matter… CUZ THE MOVIE IS COOOOL.

I don’t get up to use the toilet that night though I so glued to the coach with anticipation. It’s the reason my tux needs a clean— I shit myself (with glee) when the brilliantly daring THE KING’S SPEECH was announced as best picture. I expect a similar performance from my bowels when THE HELP wins and every time the camera pans to Spielberg’s magnificent face.

I think the fact that Tree of Life and Malick got nominated is rather a coup in and of itself and I’m proud that those noms snuck in there, even though they have no chance to win. But, how the heck did Extrememly Loud and Incredibly Close get nominated for best picture? This hasn’t been on anyone’s radar and has been getting paltry reviews at best. Although, I’m not complaining that Von Sydow got nominated as I’ve always loved his acting going back to the Bergman films. Plummer will win, as he probably should, but I almost wish that Sydow had a better film to show himself in. I’m a bit surprised Brooks did not get nominated for Drive, and Drive really got the shaft in my opinion, with also no original score nod.

I think on Oscar night, the only thing I’m really invested in, is that Michelle Williams wins. I think if she loses, I’m going to climb into our garbage bin and cry and sulk for a week. :’-I I would be very willing, however, to provide Ms. Williams with my “comfort services” for a week if such a shuddering thing were to happen and she not win. ;)

As usual we are on the same page. TREE OF LIFE and Malick would seemed to have had no chance with these people. Like you I love Von Sydow and applaud his nomination, though I do feel Brooks should have made the five. EXTREMELY LOUD getting in is a major embarrassment, even worse than putting up THE HELP. They obviously didn’t care much for DRIVE. Williams and Streep should be neck and neck the way I am sizing it up.

Yes I do think Williams and Streep are going to be a very close call. I keep wondering though why everyone thinks Streep is so far in the lead as from what I’ve read. Bottom line is, people really haven’t liked The Iron Lady, and I’m not sure why the Academy would recongnize her in a film that is really not that well received?

Yeah nominating is one thing. Winning would be adding insult to injury there! In case anyone needed any convincing on Michelle Williams, she has a nice little spread in GQ this month. “For your consideration”.

Okay yes we’re on the same page in that regard. The “cow” part might be a bit harsh, but when compared to Williams…. ;) Seriously though, if Streep is going to win one final Oscar, is it going to be for this film? I’m thinking no. Not that this means anything, but The Iron Lady is getting a 6.2 at IMDB and 55% at Rottentomatoes. That takes some real doing to get scores that bad.

Well in case the P.C. police show up I am kidding when referring to Streep. Just having a laugh with this whole thread….

“Seriously though, if Streep is going to win one final Oscar, is it going to be for this film?”

Who knows and who cares really. I have not seen the film and am certainly not rushing out either. I guess when it comes to recent nominations Doubt was her best turn (though I do not know her competition that year) to win, but she has only been in one or two great movies her whole career anyway. If she gets the statue I won’t really be surprised since nothing is too low or scummy when it comes to award show winners/recipients. I’m not really emotionally invested either way to soil my pants like Jamie did last year.

Can’t comment on Swinton as haven’t seen it but she’s usually excellent. I would say I care nothing about any of the categories this year except for Williams. They’ll never vote for Tree of Life although if they do, I might just shit my pants.

Also nice to see TREE OF LIFE nab a nom of Best Cinematography. If any film deserves to win for a category it is Malick’s. Alto, I’m bummed that it didn’t get a nom for Visual Effects and yet another tired ol’ TRANSFORMERS film does?! Argh…

I admit I am surprised that Malick and THE TREE OF LIFE were nominated. However, I think the academy must not be a fan of Ryan Gosling. He deserved a nod for BLUE VALENTINE but last year he had 2 roles to be nominated from and still nothing. I have not seen A BETTER LIFE so can’t say anything about Demian Bichir’s performance but Gosling should have been there. Albert Brooks was also left out so clearly DRIVE was not liked.

A lot of love for Paris — A CAT IN PARIS, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS & HUGO and of course a certain French film is leading the pack for best picture.

Nice to see A SEPARTION get a screenplay nomination as well. And since September, I have been saying that MONSIEUR LAZHAR would get nominated so nice to see that. That should also help in getting the film a decent theatrical run in Canada soon. It played briefly last year and no many noticed.

Agreed on much of what you say here Sachin! DRIVE was not liked by the Academy, but neither was SHAME. The potent sex and violence mix turn off the old foagies. And Gosling does deserve a far better fate, though he knows what end is up here, I’m sure! Ha! Didn’t realize that Paris was in that strongly! Great point! And A SEPARATION should have no problem winning the foreign language trophy.

Sam – I get what you’re saying here, but really – who are the old fogies now? Nearly all of the old Hollywood guard has passed away, the “fogie”-aged people are folks like Speilberg, Scorcese, Lucas, Coppola, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson,etc. You wouldn’t expect them to be so square, would you? I don’t have the answer here, but I think it’s baffling.

You make a valid point here Pat. I guess I was thinking about Ernest Borgnine and his cronies, who purportedly led the charge to defeat BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN back in 2005. Numerous accounts of those awards were speculating that the oldest members of the Academy were banding together. But yes, the ones you note here are really the senior members of AMPAS.

Sam – I didn’t know that about Ernest Borgnine and BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, although he’s pretty damn old and I don’t know how many of his cronies are left. Whenever I hear people talke about the old fogies in the Academy, I always picture people like John Wayne, Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck, who are all gone. There are probably a few other of Borgnine’s contemporaries around, but I can’t imagine there are too many.

Aye Pat, and I’d add that wichever ones are left wouldn’t command much sway anymore. But again I am only speculating here. Back in the BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN year, word is that Borgnine was a major homophobe who tried to use whatever clout he had to urge members to support CRASH. That would seem to respresent the ugliest kind of politicking. But as you broach here, how many votes could have been swayed?

When the nominees where announced, I must say that I screamed and clapped when they mentioned A Separation as best Original Script. That was the only good moment alongside the nomination for Gary Oldman, his first in his career, which is REALLY amazing when you think about it.

Maybe I’m missing something, but why were we supposed to be surprised by Tree of Life getting its token prestige nominations? I’ll be surprised if it wins anything beside Cinematography, but it has been talked of as an Oscar contender since it came out, its only handicap being its summertime release. It might even have made it in a traditional five-film field, given Malick’s personal nomination. Anyway, it’s one of the four out of nine nominees that I’ve seen, and I wouldn’t pick it out of those four, but I wouldn’t kick too much if it won, either, and I’d be inclined to vote for Malick himself, as Tree was probably the major pictorial achievement of the year in this country.

Well, remember that while The Thin Red Line was nominated for Best Picture, The New World was completely shut out and Malick is generally seen as not well liked in the industry–he’s made quite a few enemies over the years, and even Christopher Plummer could be heard the other day saying he would never work with him again. The Tree of Life was shut out of the Golden Globes and almost all the guild awards (I think it was nominated for cinematography), and I didn’t see a single Oscar blogger actually predict it to be one of the nominees, though a few said it might slip in if the number of nominees was high enough. Plus, while it topped nearly every critics’ poll, it only won a few actual critics group prizes, and in general it just seemed like it was never going to get anything other than cinematography and that was that.

Samuel, Stephen is right about the lack of even a single prediction for TREE OF LIFE at the various awards’ sites. I agree with you that it is unconscionable that TREE would be left off, but I had just about given up hope. I’m trying to figure out which four you’ve seen. OK, TREE OF LIFE, THE ARTIST, WAR HORSE, HUGO. I think your favorite of the four is THE ARTIST, though I know you liked HUGO as well.

I agree wholeheartedly. Oswalt was so brilliant in that and was a great foil for Theron. I really like Young Adult and it has stuck with me since I saw it a month ago. I think it’s better than I even initially thought.

Thanks Pat. Interesting piece! Yeah, Brooks’ snub was a travesty. The nomination of Nick Nolte for that drunken Irish shtick ahead of Brooks is an example of why the Oscars are beyond help. And yes David, Oswalt was great in YOUNG ADULT.

The fact that The Tree of Life and Malick got in here really has brightened my whole day. It’ll never win, but just the fact that it was nominated is just a really great affirmation of experimentation and trying to push cinema forward in a way that the Oscars are not at all known for.

Plus, I’m very glad that both Gary Oldman and Rooney Mara are up for acting nods. Too bad Fassbender didn’t get a nomination, though I probably won’t get to see Shame until it’s on DVD and can’t really judge, because he’s had one of the best years ever, here. But Fassbender is going to have a dozen more chances at Oscar in the future, and it’s a crime that Oldman hasn’t even been nominated yet–and I think Tinker Tailor might actually be his best work ever anyway.

Otherwise, too bad about Brooks, but didn’t expect Drive to make it with the Academy anyway, and I haven’t seen We Need to Talk About Kevin or Albert Nobbs, but Tilda Swinton’s performance just looks so much better than Glenn Close’s even in the trailers that I think its a travesty.

On the whole, though, it’s about what I expected otherwise and I can’t say I care too much who wins at this point. It’s gonna be The Descendants or The Artist, probably, and they’re both good movies, so I guess that’s fine. But really, other than hoping Oldman wins and absolutely needing Lubezki to win in cinematography, I don’t care about any of the other categories.

Excellent round-up of your feelings Stephen! Like you I really would love to see Lubezki win, and I was thrilled that TREE OF LIFE and Malick got those unexpected noms. Yes, it appears that THE ARTIST will be taking home the big prize, and since it’s a great film one can’t complain. Like you note SHAME and DRIVE would never be Oscar’s thing, and Oldman’s nomination is well-deserved.

Malick for best director (he’s been nominated before) wasn’t as big of a surprise as TToL for Best Picture (let’s face it – only in the past 3 years as they have opened up the best picture slots to between 5-10 would a film like TToL ever have a chance of a nod). But the biggest surprise was Extremely Manipulative and Incredibly Stupid getting a nod for Best Picture! Steven Daldry must’ve made a deal with the devil, as that is the only thing that explains his incessantly mediocre (and sometimes downright offensive) films getting nominated. He is the epitome of a Director/Emperor with No Clothes on.

As always you size up everything perfectly, as you do every year. It’s true that TREE would not have made it if there were five (I am assuming the five would be THE ARTIST, THE DESCENDANTS, HUGO, MONEYBALL, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS) but it certainly is cause for celebration to see the film and Malick in for noms. Love that “Extremely Manipulative and Incredibly Stupid!!!” I did however like THE HOURS. I will definitely be checking out your intriguing new post!!! It looks like THE ARTIST will win easily.

Sam, you’ll never be alone in your certain regard for the Oscars as long as I’m around. To me, Oscar is kitsch. Let’s face it, these awards are part of the mainstream of our culture. There’s nothing hifalutin about them except for the fact that they try to be hifalutin once in awhile to get some respect and because some of the members of the Academy actually are hifalutin. The way I see it, if some people can get heated up about the Super Bowl or Manchester United, why can’t I feign excitement about the Academy Awards? To take them with a grain of salt is, to me, a sign of evolution. AMPAS has been occasionally rewarding true quality ever since its inception. That’s simply how society works and this particular cultural phenomenon can be seen as a microcosm — our own little sociology experiment.

Regarding best actress, I thought Viola Davis had it sewn up ’til I saw Streep. I think Iron Lady is good enough to not impede her chances of winning. I mean, Swank’s first win, Theron’s only win, and Berry’s win were all in films that weren’t regarded particularly well. The way I see it, if Streep wins the SAG, that’s great news for her Oscar chances as SAG seems to have a better (though shorter) track record of embracing diversity.

Best actor is Clooney’s to lose, IMO. That will be the consolation prize for The Descendants, and best screenplay will be bone thrown Moneyball’s way — not best actor.

I figure Hugo will do well on Oscar night. Scorsese could even win director, but at this point I’d say they’ll give best pic/director to The Artist since it may not win that many other awards.

The nomination of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close sounds to me like a gasp of air for the tradition of Hollywood studio-made product.

“The way I see it, if some people can get heated up about the Super Bowl or Manchester United, why can’t I feign excitement about the Academy Awards?”

Indeed Piere, indeed. Your first paragraph there is a fantastic framing of what the Oscars are all about in the general picture, as part of our culture. Yes, there are many instances where they have chosen the right winners, but like any other decision-making body they only hear about the bad decisions. They are kitsch for sure, and I would agree that it’s always a lot of fun sizing up the politics and the shifting sentiments. I agree that it looks like an Artist/Hazanavicius double win, and yes EXTREMELY LOUD is a reminder of the most dire decisions made by this body.

Honestly I would have rather had Tree of Life not even be nominated than be put in a category with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Help. I don’t think it stands a chance but who knows. I’m gonna be hoping Oldman somehow pulls an upset. One of the greatest actors of his generation giving one of the best performances of the year (if not the best by an actor). I was also pulling for Albert Brooks, the lone bright spot in Drive, and Viggo Mortenson, who gave his best performance yet in A Dangerous Method, but neither got nominated. Also if they’re gonna nominate A Separation for anything other than Foreign Film, why not just put it with the top ten. Hell its better than 8 of the nominees!!!!!!

I love that first sentence!! Ha!! You have a point there!! You picked the two most lamentable choices made in the big category. And excellent point too about A SEPARATION! Brooks got robbed (Nolte had no business being nominated) It would be fantastic to see Oldman step up to the podium!

Don’t rule Tree of Life out for the big prize. Consider that the nostalgia/movie-movie vote will be split two or three ways among Artist, Hugo and Midnight in Paris. Also consider the possibility that Descendants and The Help may be competing for the same bloc of voters; that’s just the feeling I get. If I’m right, they cancel each other out. If Spielberg didn’t get a director nomination than War Horse is out of the running, and I just don’t see Moneyball winning, and no one seems to take the other film seriously. Best Picture may come down to a personality popularity contest, and if so who’s in the running? it looks like Allen, Clooney and Pitt. In that case, admittedly, the Pitt vote is split and it’s unlikely that members would vote for his performance in Moneyball, then vote for the other Pitt movie. But if a different dynamic prevails in the actor race then there’s still plenty of room for Tree to sneak in and scandalize the rabble.

That’s a most interesting scenario you map out Samuel, though I would suppose it’s still a long-shot. I would be thrilled with an ARTIST victory, but TREE OF LIFE was my #1 film, so a win there would have me ecstatic. I do agree that THE DESCENDANTS and THE HELP would probably be competing for the same bloc of voters Yes with a director nom, WAR HORSE is out and MONEYBALL gets nothing beyond the nom.

THE ARTIST is still the prohibitive favorite based on all the guild success and endless critics’ award citations, and it just last week copped the Producer’s Guild prize. That one always tells where the Oscar voters are leaning. Last year after THE SOCIAL NETWORK had won everything under the sun. The Producers Guild named THE KING’S SPEECH and that was all she wrote afterwards.

I agree with Pierre that it’s Clooney’s to lose. Someone had suggested that Clooney and Pitt would split the vote, enabling Jean Dejardin to swoop in for the win.

But if THE TREE OF LIFE wins, you will be the toast of this site, I can guarantee you that!!!

Hey Sam,
For all of us that haven’t seen The Artist yet due to poor distribution in particular areas, it looks like this Friday it’s going into wider release. I just checked my local listings for showtimes on Friday and The Artist will finally arrive in Kalamazoo.

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Wonders in the Dark is a blog dedicated to the arts, especially film, theatre and music. An open forum is highly encouraged, as the site proctors are usually ready and able to engage with ongoing conversation.